FDNY called to burning sage protest at the Whitney Museum of American Art

A woman looks at paintings from the "Flower" series against a backdrop of "Cow Wallpaper" (1966) by late artist Andy Warhol at an exhibition at the Whitney Museum. (THOMAS URBAIN / AFP/Getty Images)

Demonstrators gathered at the Whitney Museum of American Art Sunday afternoon to protest the museum’s vice chairman’s ties to a company that manufactures tear gas being used on refugees at the U.S. border with Mexico.

Activist group Decolonize This Place called for the protest against Warren Kanders nearly a week after 100 museum employees signed a letter asking the Whitney take action against him.

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The protesters carried signs outside the West Village institution, banged drums, chanted and burned sage — drawing a response from the FDNY.

“The Whitney Museum doormen tried to keep out protesters after banners started getting unfurled,” according to Twitter user @AshAgony, who posted video of the demonstration and reported the smell of burning herbs.

“But protesters would not be held back. Protesters calling out museum’s vice chairman for owning company that makes tear gas used at the border against migrants!”

Hyperallergic.com reported Nov. 30 that Kanders purchased the company Safariland for $124 million in 2012. The company’s logo appeared on the gas canisters hurled at protesters and migrants on the San Diego-Tijuana border Nov. 25.

The vice chairman, who is also a contributor to the Whitney’s current “Andy Warhol, From A To B And Back Again” exhibit, wrote a letter last week arguing his company doesn’t decide how its products are used.

“Safariland’s role as a manufacturer is to ensure the products work, as expected, when needed,” according to Kanders. “Safariland’s role is not to determine when and how they are employed.”

Museum officials could not be reached for comment.

Drums, burning sage, & chants outside of the Whitney Museum in NYC as protesters call out the museum’s vice chairman, Warren Kanders, who also owns the company that makes the tear gas used on migrants at the border. #DecolonizeThisPlacepic.twitter.com/UqxxmiNYtZ